Contact isolating means for multipoled switch devices

ABSTRACT

In switching means such as a relay having a plurality of spaced pairs of fixed contacts spaced from each other and a corresponding number of contact arms movable to engage each of corresponding pair of fixed contacts, and a removable insert of a dielectric material providing isolating walls between adjacent pairs of fixed contacts to prevent an ionized spark path therebetween.

United States Patent 124, 189; ZOO/168A [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,295,078 12/ 1966 Hrynewycz 335/ l 24 3,451,019 6/1969Aver et a1. 335/201 Primary Examiner-I-I. 0. Jones AttgrneysGeorge W.Price and Charles J. Worth ABSTRACT: In switching means such as a relayhaving a plurality of spaced pairs of fixed contacts spaced from eachother and a corresponding number of contact arms movable to engage eachof corresponding pair of fixed contacts, and a removable insert of adielectric material providing isolating walls between adjacent pairs offixed contacts to prevent an ionized spark path therebetween.

CONTACT ISOLATING MEANS FOR MULTIPOLED SWITCH DEVICES This inventionrelates generally to multiple pole switching devices and moreparticularly to means forproviding isolation barriers between thevarious polesthereof to prevent arcing due to an ionized path.

The present invention is particularly adapted for multiple pole relaysand will be described in this environment. Relays of the type concernedhave multiple sets or pairs of spaced contact terminals and a pluralityof spring contact arms each movable into and out of engagement with eachof the corresponding pair of contact terminals to provide a firstconnection in the operated positionof the relay and a second connectionwhen the relay is unoperated. I

The pairs of contact terminals in relays are normally closely spacedside by side and under certain conditions, when a tendency for arcingexists at adjacent contact terminals, will cause arcing across the gapfrom one switching means to the adjacent switching means.

Various isolating means have been tried to prevent such arcing and werefound to be unsatisfactory because of the resulting limited areasbetween the barriers provided and/or because of the fragility of suchbarriers.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide contactisolation means between adjacent contact terminals of a multiple poleswitching means which is removably applied as a separate portionthereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide contact isolatormeans between adjacent contacts of a multiple pole switching means whichis releasably mounted on the various contacts.

And another object of the present invention is to provide a contactisolator of the type described above which is retained in position byclamping between two portions of the casing of the switching means inwhich it is embodied.

The present invention contemplates a switching means including supportmeans of a dielectric material; a plurality of contact means disposed ina laterally spaced series, each of the contact including a pair of fixedcontacts extending frornthe support'means and being spaced from oneanother,

. and a contact arrn extending between and being movable into engagementwith each of the fixed contacts; and contact isolating means of adielectric material and comprising common wall means extendinglengthwiseacross at least all of the contact means spaced between theend contact means of the series on the side of the sameone of thecontacts of the pairs of fixed contacts opposite from the contact arms,spaced contact isolating wall means disposed between adjacent spacedcontact means and extending from the common wall means past the other ofthe contacts of the pairs of fixed contacts, all of the wall meansextending from the support means to at least the ends of the pairs offixed oontacts, and means for retaining the contact isolating means frommovement relative to the pairs of fixed contacts.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willappear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detaileddescription which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawingswherein several embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way ofexample. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawingsare for illustration purposes only and are not to be construed asdefining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a relay embodying the presentinvention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged bottom plan view of the novel contactisolator when seen from line 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the header end of arelay with a modified form of contact isolator, and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged bottom plan and elevational views,respectively, of the contact isolator of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, arelay 10 is provided with a stator assembly 11 on which is pivotallymounted a spring biased armature assembly 12 within a cover or can 13having an open end closed by a header 14. The cover 13 has the usualindents for receiving detents 15 extending from opposite edges of theheader 14 for releasably locking the two portions together. The statorassembly 11 is mounted by a grounding member 17 to the inner surface 16ot' the header 14 which supports a pair of terminal members 18 for anelectromagnet to cause the armature 12 to pivot in the usual manner.

A plurality of contact means are provided in laterally spaced serieseach comprising a pair of fixed contact terminals in spaced face to facerelationship and a contact arm which extends into the space therebetweenand is movable into engagement with each of the fixed contact terminals.More specifically the armature assembly 12 is provided with four springcontact arms 20, 20A, 20B and 20C in spaced series which extend betweencorresponding pairs of fixed contact terminals 21 and 22, 21A and 22A,21B and 22B and 21C and 22C, respectively, which are supported by andextend through the support means or header 14. The header 14 alsosupports terminal members 19, 19A, 19B and 19C which are connected byconductors (not shown) to the respective spring contact arms 20-20C.

A contact isolator means or member 30 is provided with a common orlaterally disposed wall or wall means 31 extending across the pairs offixed contact terminals 21A/22A and 218/228 between the end pairs offixed contact terminals 21/22 and 2lC/22C of the series. The common wallmeans 31 has a flange which extends from one end to the other providinga pair of U-shaped flanges or flange portions 36 and 36A between spacedadjacent isolating walls 34/34A and 34A/34B which also depend (as seenin FIGS. 1 and 2) from the common wall 31 between the adjacent pairs, offixed contact terminals and end flanges or flange portions 37 and 37Aextending laterally from the isolating walls 34 and 348, respectively.The U-shaped flange portions 36 and 36A together with flange portion 37extending from the isolating wall 34 to the fixed contact terminal 21and the flange portion 37A extending from the wall 348 to the fixedcontact terminal 21C are disposed adjacent the inner wall 16 of theheader 14. The U- shaped flange portions 36 and 36A define slots forreceiving the portion of the fixed contact terminals 21A and 218,

respectively, adjacent the inner wall 16 of the header 14.

The isolating walls 34, 34A and 34B extend past the fixed contactterminals 22, 22A, 22B and 22C and are provided at their ends adjacentto the inner wall 16 of the header 14 with pairs of flanges 35, 35A and35B, respectively, which engage the fixed contact terminals 22 and 22A,22A and 22B, and 22B and 22C. All of the wall portions of the contactisolating means 30, comprising the common wall 31 and the isolatingwalls 34, 34A and 34B, all extend from the header 14 to at least orbeyond the ends of the fixed contact terminals 21, 21A, 21B, 22, 22A and228.

The contact isolating means 30 is also provided with a tab 32whichextends from the upper surface of the common wall 31 (as viewed inFIGS. 1 and 2) and along the adjacent edge of the header 14 andterminates in an enlarged free end portion formed by an outwardlyextending lip or flange 33. The tab 32 is disposed in a slot provided inone wall of the cover 13 and is spaced from the ends of the common wall31 of the isolating means 30. The edge'of the slotted wall of the cover13 engages the lip 33 and urges the contact isolating means 30 towardsthe header 14 while the slotted wall engages the top of the common wall31 on each side of the tab 32 urging the wall towards the plurality ofcontact means to retain the contact isolating means against movementrelative to the various pairs of fixed contact terminals.

A modified contact isolating means or member 40 is shown in FIGS. 4, 5and 6 and is provided with the common wall 41 and contact isolatingwalls 44, 44A and 4413 which correspond to the common wall 31 and thecontact isolating walls 34, 34A and 348, respectively, of the contactisolating means 30. The modified contact isolating means 40 is alsoprovided with U- shaped flanges or flange portions 46 and 46Acorresponding to flanges 36 and 36A, end flanges or flange portions 47and 47A corresponding to flanges 37 and 37A, and flanges 45, 45A and 45Bcorresponding to flanges 35, 35A and 358.

The common wall 41 may be provided with a rearwardly extending taperedportion 42 at its upper end which is divided by central slot 43 in placeof the tab 32 of the isolating means 353. As shown in FIG. 4, a modifiedcover or can 23 has one or more inwardly extending portions orprojections 24 which engage the upper portion of the common wall 41 andurge the contact isolating means 40 towards the header 14. The wall ofthe cover 23 with the portions 24 also engages the top of the commonwall 41 to retain the contact isolating means 40 from movement relativeto the various pairs of fixed contact terminals.

As is best shown in FIG. 5, flange portions 47 and 47A may be providedwith projections 48 and 48A, respectively, which engage the respectivefixed contact terminals 21 and 21C to also retain the contact isolatingmeans 40 from movement. The projections 48 and 48A also may be providedon the flanges 37 and 37A of the isolating means 30.

It should be readily understood that the novel switching means or relayor 10A can be fully assembled without its cover 13 or 23 and be properlyadjusted without interference .from contact isolating means. Thereafterthe contact isolating means 30 or 40 may be assembled in to the desiredposition therefor and the cover 13 or 23 is then provided to completeassembly.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the inventionis not limited thereto. Various changes may be made in the design andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the3.11.

I claim:

1. In switching means including support means of a dielectric materialand a plurality of contact means disposed in a laterally spaced series,each of said contact means including a pair of fixed contacts extendingfrom said support means and being spaced from one another, and a contactarm extending between and being movable in to engagement with each ofthe fixed contacts; removable contact isolating means of a dielectricmaterial and comprising:

common wall means extending lengthwise across at least all of saidcontact means spaced between the end contact means of said series and onthe side of the same one of the contacts of said pairs of fixed contactsopposite from said contact arms;

spaced contact isolating wall means disposed between adjacent spacedcontact means and extending from said common wall means past the otherof the contacts of said pairs of fixed contacts;

all of said common wall means extending from said support means to atleast the ends of said pairs of fixed contacts; means retaining saidcontact isolating means from movement relative to said pairs of fixedcontacts; and

said common wall means having projections extending from its ends eachengaging said one of the fixed contacts of the adjacent contact meansand on the same side thereof as said contact arm.

2. In switching means including support means of a dielectric materialand a plurality of contact means disposed in a laterally spaced series,each of said contact means including a pair of fixed contacts extendingfrom said support means and being spaced from one another, and a contactarm extending between and being movable into engagement with each of thefixed contacts; removable contact isolating means of a dielectricmaterial and comprising:

common wall means extending lengthwise across at least all of saidcontact means spaced between the end contact means of said series and onthe side of the same one of the contacts of said pairs of fixed contactsopposite from said contact arms;

spaced contact isolating wall means disposed between adjacent spacedcontact means and extending from said common wall means past the otherof the contacts of said pairs of fixed contacts;

all of said common wall means extending from said support means to atleast theendsofsjaid pair's offixed coiitacts;

means retaining said contact isolating means from movement relative tosaid pairs of fixed contacts; v

a hollow cover open atoneend housing said contact means;

said support means dispose andclosingthe open end of said cover; .7 I pH I said contact isolating means; g a tab extending from between theends of said common wall means along an adjacent edge of said supportmeans and terminating with an enlarged free end; and I one side of saidcover having a slot for said tab, engaging the enlarged end of said tabat its open end and engaging said common wall means on both sides ofsaid tab thereby urging said common wall means toward said support andcontact means.

3. In switching means including support means of a dielectric materialand a plurality of contact means disposed in a laterally spaced series,each of said contact means including a pair of fixed contacts extendingfrom said support means and being spaced from one another, and a contactann extending between and being movable into engagement with each of thefixed contacts; removable, contact isolating means of a dielectricmaterial andcompn'sing: p j

common wall means extending lengthwise across'at'least all of saidcontact means spaced between the end contact means of said series and onthe side of the same one of the contacts of said pairs of fixed contactsopposite from said contact arms; v I i spaced contact isolating wallmeans dispoied' between adjacent spaced contact means and extending fromsaid common wall means past the other of the contacts of said pairs offixed contacts; j

all of said common wall means extending from said support means to atleast the ends of said pairs of fixed cdntacts; means retaining saidcontact isolating means from movement relative to said pairs of fixedcontacts;

each of. said contact isolating wall means having a pair of flanges atits end adjacent said support means and spaced from said common wallmeans; and

each flange of each of said pairs of flanges extending from the side ofsaid contact isolating wall means opposite from the other of said pairand engaging said other of the fixed contacts adjacent thereto.

4. in switching means including support means of a dielectric materialand a plurality of contact means disposed in a laterally spaced series,each of said contact means including a pair of fixed contacts extendingfrom said support means and being spaced from one another, and a contactarm extending between and being movable into engagement with each of thefixed contacts; removable contact isolating means of a dielectricmaterial and comprising:

common wall means extending lengthwise across at least all of saidcontact means spaced between the end contact means of said series and onthe side of thesame one of the contacts of said pairs of fixed contactsopposite from said contact arms; i

spaced contact isolating wall means disposed between adjacent spacedcontact means and extending from said common wall means past the otherof the contacts of said pairs of fixed contacts; all of said common wallmeans extending from said support means to at least the ends of saidpairs of fixed contacts; means retaining said contact isolating wallmeans from movement relative to said pairs'ot fixed'contacts; saidcommon wall means having a flange extending therefrom along said contactisolating wall means and adjacent said support means; and

said flange providing a Ll-shaped flange portion between each twoadjacent contact isolating wall means defining a recess for the said oneof the fixed contacts disposed in the space between said two adjacentcontact isolating wall means, and end flange portions each extendinglaterally to engage the said one of the fixed contacts of a differentone of raid contact means at the end of said series from the adjacentcontact isolating wall means.

5. The switching means in accordance with claim 4; and each of said endflanges having a projection extending therefrom engaging the same one ofsaid one of the fixed contacts engaged by said end flange and on theside thereof opposite from said common wall means.

6. The switching means in accordance with claim 4; and

each of said contact isolating wall means having a pair of flanges atits end adjacent said support means and spaced from said common wallmeans;

each flange of each of said pairs of flanges extending from the side ofsaid contact isolating wall means opposite from the other of said pairand engaging said other of the contacts adjacent thereto.

7. The switching means in accordance with claim 6;

a hollow cover open at one end housing said contact means;

said support means disposed in and closing the open end of said cover;

one side of said cover having at least one projection extending inwardlytherefrom; and

said one side and projection engaging adjacent sides of said common wallmeans and urging said common wall means toward said support and contactmeans.

8. The switching means in accordance with claim 6;

said contact isolating wall means having a tab extending from betweenthe ends of said common wall means along an adjacent edge of saidsupport means and terminating with an enlarged free end;

a hollow cover open at one end housing said contact means;

said support means disposed in and closing the open end of said cover;and

one side of said cover having a slot for said tab, engaging the enlargedend of said tab at its open end and engaging said common wall means onboth sides of said tab thereby urging said common wall means toward saidsupport and contact means.

1. In switching means including support means of a dielectric materialand a plurality of contact means disposed in a laterally spaced series,each of said contact means including a pair of fixed contacts extendingfrom said support means and being spaced from one another, and a contactarm extending between and being movable in to engagement with each ofthe fixed contacts; removable contact isolating means of a dielectricmaterial and comprising: common wall means extending lengthwise acrossat least all of said contact means spaced between the end contact meansof said series and on the side of the same one of the contacts of saidpairs of fixed contacts opposite from said contact arms; spaced contactisolating wall means disposed between adjacent spaced contact means andextending from said common wall means past thE other of the contacts ofsaid pairs of fixed contacts; all of said common wall means extendingfrom said support means to at least the ends of said pairs of fixedcontacts; means retaining said contact isolating means from movementrelative to said pairs of fixed contacts; and said common wall meanshaving projections extending from its ends each engaging said one of thefixed contacts of the adjacent contact means and on the same sidethereof as said contact arm.
 2. In switching means including supportmeans of a dielectric material and a plurality of contact means disposedin a laterally spaced series, each of said contact means including apair of fixed contacts extending from said support means and beingspaced from one another, and a contact arm extending between and beingmovable into engagement with each of the fixed contacts; removablecontact isolating means of a dielectric material and comprising: commonwall means extending lengthwise across at least all of said contactmeans spaced between the end contact means of said series and on theside of the same one of the contacts of said pairs of fixed contactsopposite from said contact arms; spaced contact isolating wall meansdisposed between adjacent spaced contact means and extending from saidcommon wall means past the other of the contacts of said pairs of fixedcontacts; all of said common wall means extending from said supportmeans to at least the ends of said pairs of fixed contacts; meansretaining said contact isolating means from movement relative to saidpairs of fixed contacts; a hollow cover open at one end housing saidcontact means; said support means disposed in and closing the open endof said cover; said contact isolating means having a tab extending frombetween the ends of said common wall means along an adjacent edge ofsaid support means and terminating with an enlarged free end; and oneside of said cover having a slot for said tab, engaging the enlarged endof said tab at its open end and engaging said common wall means on bothsides of said tab thereby urging said common wall means toward saidsupport and contact means.
 3. In switching means including support meansof a dielectric material and a plurality of contact means disposed in alaterally spaced series, each of said contact means including a pair offixed contacts extending from said support means and being spaced fromone another, and a contact arm extending between and being movable intoengagement with each of the fixed contacts; removable contact isolatingmeans of a dielectric material and comprising: common wall meansextending lengthwise across at least all of said contact means spacedbetween the end contact means of said series and on the side of the sameone of the contacts of said pairs of fixed contacts opposite from saidcontact arms; spaced contact isolating wall means disposed betweenadjacent spaced contact means and extending from said common wall meanspast the other of the contacts of said pairs of fixed contacts; all ofsaid common wall means extending from said support means to at least theends of said pairs of fixed contacts; means retaining said contactisolating means from movement relative to said pairs of fixed contacts;each of said contact isolating wall means having a pair of flanges atits end adjacent said support means and spaced from said common wallmeans; and each flange of each of said pairs of flanges extending fromthe side of said contact isolating wall means opposite from the other ofsaid pair and engaging said other of the fixed contacts adjacentthereto.
 4. In switching means including support means of a dielectricmaterial and a plurality of contact means disposed in a laterally spacedseries, each of said contact means including a pair of fixed contactsextending from said support means and being spaced from one another, anda contact arm extending between and being movable into enGagement witheach of the fixed contacts; removable contact isolating means of adielectric material and comprising: common wall means extendinglengthwise across at least all of said contact means spaced between theend contact means of said series and on the side of the same one of thecontacts of said pairs of fixed contacts opposite from said contactarms; spaced contact isolating wall means disposed between adjacentspaced contact means and extending from said common wall means past theother of the contacts of said pairs of fixed contacts; all of saidcommon wall means extending from said support means to at least the endsof said pairs of fixed contacts; means retaining said contact isolatingwall means from movement relative to said pairs of fixed contacts; saidcommon wall means having a flange extending therefrom along said contactisolating wall means and adjacent said support means; and said flangeproviding a U-shaped flange portion between each two adjacent contactisolating wall means defining a recess for the said one of the fixedcontacts disposed in the space between said two adjacent contactisolating wall means, and end flange portions each extending laterallyto engage the said one of the fixed contacts of a different one of saidcontact means at the end of said series from the adjacent contactisolating wall means.
 5. The switching means in accordance with claim 4;and each of said end flanges having a projection extending therefromengaging the same one of said one of the fixed contacts engaged by saidend flange and on the side thereof opposite from said common wall means.6. The switching means in accordance with claim 4; and each of saidcontact isolating wall means having a pair of flanges at its endadjacent said support means and spaced from said common wall means; eachflange of each of said pairs of flanges extending from the side of saidcontact isolating wall means opposite from the other of said pair andengaging said other of the contacts adjacent thereto.
 7. The switchingmeans in accordance with claim 6; a hollow cover open at one end housingsaid contact means; said support means disposed in and closing the openend of said cover; one side of said cover having at least one projectionextending inwardly therefrom; and said one side and projection engagingadjacent sides of said common wall means and urging said common wallmeans toward said support and contact means.
 8. The switching means inaccordance with claim 6; said contact isolating wall means having a tabextending from between the ends of said common wall means along anadjacent edge of said support means and terminating with an enlargedfree end; a hollow cover open at one end housing said contact means;said support means disposed in and closing the open end of said cover;and one side of said cover having a slot for said tab, engaging theenlarged end of said tab at its open end and engaging said common wallmeans on both sides of said tab thereby urging said common wall meanstoward said support and contact means.